METHOD, APPARATUS, SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR PROVIDING A PLMN IDENTIFIER TO A NODE OF A RAN

Abstract

A method in a communication system includes a first core network node (CN), a second CN, a base station apparatus serving a user equipment (UE), and a packet data network gateway (PGW) associated with the UE, the method being performed by the first CN. The method includes the first CN receiving a tunneling endpoint identifier (TEID) information element from a second CN, the TEID information element comprises a plurality of fields. The one of the plurality of fields includes a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to providing a PLMN identifier to a node of a radio access network (RAN).

BACKGROUND

A RAN can improve its management of radio resources by knowing services currently being used by wireless communication devices (referred to herein as “user equipment (UE)”) that are served by the RAN. In 3GPP, such a function is called SIRIG (which stands for Service identification for improved radio utilization for GERAN), where the service identification is provided to the RAN (e.g., provided to a base station of the RAN or a radio network controlling in the RAN) by a core network node (CN) comprising a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a serving GPRS support node (SGSN).

While SIRIG is currently only defined for GERANs (GSM EDGE Radio Access Networks), SIRIG can be extended to other radio access technologies (RATs), e.g., universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), long term evolution (LTE), etc.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method in a communication system includes a first core network node (CN), a second CN, a base station apparatus serving a user equipment (UE), and a packet data network gateway (PGW) associated with the UE, the method being performed by the first CN. The method includes the first CN receiving a tunneling endpoint identifier (TEID) information element form a second CN, the TEID information element comprises a plurality of fields. The one of the plurality of fields includes a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identifier of the PGW. The method further includes the first CN forwarding the received PLMN identifier to the base station apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method in a communication system includes an SGSN, a base station serving a user equipment (UE), an RNC controlling the base station, and a packet data network gateway (PGW) associated with the UE, the method being performed by the SGSN. The method includes the SGSN obtaining a PLMN identifier (ID) of the PGW. The method further includes the SGSN transmitting the PLMN ID to the RNC.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method in a communication system includes a first core network node (CN), a base station apparatus serving a user equipment (UE), and a packet data network gateway (PGW) associated with the UE, the method being performed by the first CN. The method includes the first CN obtaining a PLMN identifier of the PGW. The method further includes the first CN transmitting a message to the base station apparatus. The message includes: (i) an information element containing the PLMN ID of the PGW; and (ii) a radio access bearer (RAB) identifier information element including data identifying a RAB.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method in a communication system includes a first core network node (CN), a second CN, and a packet data network gateway (PGW) associated with user equipment (UE). The method is performed by the first CN and includes the first CN encoding a Public Land Mobile Network identifier (PLMN ID) of the PGW in a TEID/GRE Key field of a F-TEID information element. The method further includes the first CN transmitting the F-TEID information element containing the PLMN ID to the second CN.

The SIRIG function supports both roaming and network sharing scenarios. (See SP-120252 and SP-120483). The solution to support the roaming scenario is specified in section 5.3.5.3 in 3GPP TS 23.060 as follows: “When the serving A/Gb mode SGSN receives SCI in a GTP-U packet, it copies it, without modifying its value, into a Gb interface information element that is sent by the SGSN in the downlink Gb interface user data packet to the GERAN access. In order to allow the GERAN to map the SCI into RRM behaviour, the downlink Gb interface user data packet also carries the HPLMN ID (in the IMSI parameter) and additional information, added by the SGSN, which indicates whether the SCI is assigned by a GGSN/P-GW in e.g. the Home PLMN or Visited PLMN. Absence of additional information is an indication of a VPLMN provided SCI

The A/Gb mode GERAN uses the information from the SGSN to determine whether to map, and how to map, the SCI to the related RRM behaviour. If the GERAN is not configured with an SCI mapping for the SGSN provided information, then the GERAN shall treat the user plane packet normally, i.e. the GERAN ignores the SCI.

NOTE 4: When sending downlink GTP-U packets, there are some transient periods where the “current RAT” information for the user may be incorrect at the GGSN/P-GW e.g. after a handover from (E)UTRAN to GERAN, or if the MS is in idle mode with ISR active, or if the MS is in idle mode and located in a Routing Area comprising GERAN and UTRAN cells. In these cases, the A/Gb mode GERAN may receive the first downlink user plane packets without Service Class Indicator.”

Thus, the BS based on the knowledge of the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the additional information indicating whether the subscriber controlled input (SCI) is assigned by a GGSN/P-GW (e.g., the Home PLMN or Visited PLMN) interprets the semantics of SCI and apply relevant radio resource management (RRM) behaviors. But, the above solution may have a problem when SIRIG function is extended to LTE and UMTS because the enodeB (eNB) has no knowledge of IMSI. Therefore the solution doesn't work for LTE.

When Direct Tunnel is used in 3G or 4G is used, the payload path may be RNC/eNB-SGW-PGW, which indicates that the SGW has to insert such “additional information indicating whether the SCI is assigned by a GGSN/P-GW in e.g. the Home PLMN or Visited PLMN.” When Direct Tunnel is not used, the payload path would be RNC-SGSN-SGW-PGW, which indicates that the SGSN has to insert such “additional information indicating whether the SCI is assigned by a GGSN/P-GW in e.g. the Home PLMN or Visited PLMN.”.

Because both RNC and eNB support the Bearer Service concept (where the UMTS bearer service is specified in 3GPP TS 23.107 and EPS bearer is specified in the section 4.7 in TS 23.401), the SGW or MME/SGSN can inform RNC or eNB about PLMN of the PGW (i.e., the PLMN in which the PGW is located) for each bearer contexts within a given PDN connection. The SGW or MME/SGSN can inform RNC/eNB about the PLMN of the PGW during, for example, RAB assignment procedure and SRNS relocation procedure in 3G (or during initial UE context setup/E-RAB establishment and handover procedure in LTE). Both RNC and eNB have no PDN connection level concept but only hearer context within a PDN connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication system 100 in which embodiments of this disclosure are implemented;

FIGS. 2-8, 9A and 9B illustrates example flows in which embodiments of this disclosure are implemented; and

FIG. 10 illustrates an example block diagram of an example core network node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to providing a PLMN identifier to a node of a radio access network (RAN). In embodiments, the present invention enables roaming support for SIRIG when it is used for UMTS and LTE. Thus, comparing with the existing solution, one or more embodiment are much more efficient as the PLMN information of the PGW is provided per bearer context, not per GTP-U packet, which reduces very much processing load in eNB 114, RNC 106, SGSN 108, SGW 118, as shown in FIG. 1. The disclosure also allows for transfer of information during handover procedures, useful for SIRIG solutions in UTRAN and E-UTRAN.

I. Embed PLMN Identifier in the User Plane Address

Before user plane data can be transferred to the UE 128 (see FIG. 1), a user plane path, i.e., a bearer has to be established. The bearer establishment may happen during one or more of the following procedures: Initial attach (in E-UTRAN 112 in FIG. 1), TAU with Active flag, PDP Context Activation, RAU with Follow-on-request flag, SRNS relocation (RAB need to be established in the target RAN before UE is moving in), etc.

The SGW 118 (3G when DT is used or 4G for EPS), the SGSN 108 (when DT is not used in 3G), or the GGSN 110 (3G when DT is used but it is connected with Gn/Gp SGSN), will provide user plane transportation address (IP address+TEID=F-TEID) to the RAN via the MME 116/SGSN 108 (through S1-MME and Iu interface).

For 3G and when direct tunnel is used (or for 4G), the SGW will provide SGW F-TEID(s) for the user plane for each bearer context. The F-TEID(s) will be forwarded by the SGSN 108 or the MME 116 during RAB assignment procedure or during initial UE context setup/E-RAB establishment procedure to the RNC 106 or the eNB 114. Those SGW F-TEID(s) are used by RNC 106 and eNB 114 to send any uplink user plane data. During SRNS relocation procedure in 3G or handover procedure in LTE, the target SGSN 108 or MME 116 provides the SGW 118 user plane F-TEID either received from the source MME 116/SGSN 108 (in case the SGW is not relocated) or from a new SGW (in case the SGW is relocated).

This disclosure proposes that the SGW 118 embed a PLMN identifier (PLMN ID) into the SGW F-TEID when it is sent to the MME 116/SGSN 108, where the embedded PLMN ID identifies the PLMN of the PGW 120 (i.e., the PLMN in which the PGW is located) associated with the UE 128. This is illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows the SGW 118 receiving a create session request message from an MME 116 (or SGSN 108) and then transmitting a create session response message to the MME 116/SGSN 108, which creates a session response message that includes an F-TEID information element that contains a field containing the PLMN ID.

F-TEID is an existing information element as specified in section 8.22 TS 29.274 and shown in FIGS. 8.22-1 of TS 29.274, which is reproduced below:

	Bits
Octets	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
1	Type = 87 (decimal)
2to 3	Length = n
4	Spare	Instance
5	V4	V6	Interface Type
6 to 9	TEID/GRE Key
m to (m + 3)	IPv4 address
p to (p + 15)	IPv6 address
k to (n + 4)	These octet(s) is/are present, only if explicitly specified

The Octets 6 to 9 (a.k.a., the TEID/GRE Key field) is encoded for TEID, where PLMN ID of the PGW 120 may be embedded according to an operator's configuration. That is, the PLMN ID of the PGW 120 may be encoded in the TEID/GRE Key field of the F-TEID information element.

For 3G when direct tunnel is not used, the SGSN 108 will provide SGSN F-TEID to the RNC 106 during RAB assignment procedure (this is illustrated in FIG. 3). Accordingly, the SGSN 108 can embed PLMN information of the PGW 120 for a given PDN connection into SGSN F-TEID, as described above.

For legacy Gn/Gp SGSN interworking with a GGSN in another PLMN when direct tunnel is used, the GGSN may embed PLMN ID of the GGSN for a given PDP into GGSN TEID on the user plane, which will be forwarded by the Gn/Gp SGSN to the RNC 106 as described in FIG. 4. Stage 2 changes to current specifications may be needed in order to describe that the TEID forwarded to RNC 106 or eNB contains information about the HPLMN ID or VPLMN ID corresponding to the PGW 120 where the RAB is established.

When indirect data forwarding is used during handover/SRNS relocation procedure and when the SGW 118 selected as data forwarding is NOT the anchor SGW, the forwarding SGW has no knowledge of PLMN information of the PGW 120, thus those packets received via indirect tunneling may not associated with a PLMN information, hence they may not be correctly handled. This requires when setting up the indirect tunnel, the SGSN 108/MME 116 shall either not use non-anchor SGW, or shall let the data forwarding SGW know about PLMN information of PGW 120. This implies a protocol change—to add PLMN information of the PGW 120 in the GTP message “Create Indirect Data Forwarding Tunnel Request message”, so when data forwarding SGW 118 allocates SGW F-TEID for data forwarding, it can embed such PLMN information of the PGW into the SGW F-TEID.

II. Provide PLMN ID During Bearer Establishment

It is also possible to provide the PLMN ID of the PGW 120 serving the UE 128 to the RNC 106 or eNB 114 during RAB assignment procedure and SRNS relocation procedure (for 3G) or Initial UE context setup/E-RAB establishment procedure and handover procedure (for 4G), by the SGSN 108 or MME 116.

The procedure for RAB assignment procedure for 3G is described in the section 12.7.4.1 of TS 23.060 RAB Assignment Procedure Using Gn/Gp and in the section 8.2.2 of TS 25.413 and illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the RAB Assignment Request message, a new IE, preferably called “PLMN of PGW/GGSN” is included, and associated with each RAB. Addition of the new PLMN of PGW/GGSN IE in the RAB Assignment Request message is shown in Table 1. FIG. 6 illustrate a core network node (CN) transmitting a message of type RAB assignment request to an RNC 106. The RAB assignment request message includes the PLMN ID of the PGW serving the UE that the RAB identified in the message is for.

An MME may provide to an eNB 114 the PLMN ID using a message of type Initial Context Setup Request, as shown in FIG. 7. Addition of the new PLMN of PGW/GGSN IE in the INITIAL COTEXT SETUP message is shown in Table 2.

An MME 116 may provide to an eNB 114 the PLMN ID using a message of type E-RAB Setup Request, as shown in FIG. 8. Addition of the new PLMN of PGW 120/GGSN 110 IE in the E-RAB SETUP REQUEST message is shown in Table 3. Once the PLMN of PGW 120/GGSN 110 has been transferred to the serving RAN according to the embodiment above, there is also the need to transfer such information during handover procedures across different base stations. This should be done both for UTRAN 102 and E-UTRAN 112 and both for network based handovers (i.e. S1 or RANAP handovers) or direct interface handovers such as X2 or Iur handovers. The S1 handover procedure for E-UTRAN 112 is described in TS23.401 section 5.5.1.2.2 and as is shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. In alternate embodiments, an equivalent procedure exists for UTRAN RANAP based handovers.

In addition, when indirect tunneling is applicable, the target RAN should apply the received PLMN of the PGW 120 via Handover Request and Relocation Request also to that associated data forwarding tunnel.

The new PLMN of PGW IE shall be added to the HNDOVER REQUEST message to communicate to the target RAN the PLMN ID of the PGW associated to the handed over RAB. An example of how such new IE could be included is shown in table 4. An equivalent modification can be applied to UTRAN 102 by adding the “PLMN of PGW/GGSN” IE by using a RANAP: RELOCATION REQUEST message.

In case of mobility for E-UTRAN 112 and UTRAN 102 not involving the CN (i.e., X2 or Iur based mobility), the new information may be added to the respective mobility messages. For E-UTRAN 112 the X2 handover procedure is described in TS36.300 section 10.1.2.1.1. An equivalent procedure, SRNS relocation, exists for UTRAN over the Iur interface.

For UTRAN 102, the new PLMN of PGW IE shall be added to the HANDOVER REQUIRED message to communicate to the target RAN the PLMN ID of the PGW 120 associated with the handed over RAB. An example of how such new IE could be included is shown in the Table 5: Example of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW” IE in the X2: HANDOVER REQUIRED message (see TS36.423).

In the case of UTRAN 102, the new PLMN of PGW/GGSN IE shall be added in the RNSAP: Enhanced Relocation Request message and in particular in the RANAP Enhanced Relocation Information Required IE defined in TS25.413. An example of how this could be achieved is shown in Table 6: Example of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW/GGSN” IE in the RANAP Enhanced Relocation Information IE included in the RNSAP: Enhanced Relocation Request message (see TS25.423).

The new information concerning the PLMN ID of the PGW 120/GGSN 110 associated to the RAB handed over may be sent for each RAB.

The information added to the messages and procedures above shall not be limited to the PLMN ID of the PGW 120/GGSN 110 to which the RAB is associated. Such information could include any indication that allows the RAN to understand the actions to be taken upon reception of SIRIG-like marking. For example, the information added could consist of an index pointing at a particular SIRIG policy, which allows the RAN to understand the RRM policy so as to apply packets with specific SIRIG marking.

III. Example Network Node

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example core network node. As shown in FIG. 10, the core network node includes: a data processing system (DPS) 402, which may include one or more processors (P) 455 (e.g., microprocessors) and/or one or more circuits, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.; a network interface 403 for connecting the network node to a network 130; a data storage system 406, which may include one or more computer-readable data storage mediums, such as non-transitory memory unit (e.g., hard drive, flash memory, optical disk, etc.) and/or volatile storage apparatuses (e.g., dynamic random access memory (DRAM)).

In embodiments where data processing system 402 includes a processor 455 (e.g., a microprocessor), a computer program product 433 may be provided, which computer program product includes: computer readable program code 443 (e.g., instructions), which implements a computer program, stored on a computer readable medium 442 of data storage system 406, such as, but not limited, to magnetic media (e.g., a hard disk), optical media (e.g., a DVD), memory devices (e.g., random access memory), etc. In some embodiments, computer readable program code 443 is configured such that, when executed by data processing system 402, code 443 causes the data processing system 402 to perform steps described herein.

In some embodiments, network node is configured to perform steps described above without the need for code 443. For example, data processing system 402 may consist merely of specialized hardware, such as one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Hence, the features of the present invention described above may be implemented in hardware and/or software. For example, in some embodiments, the functional components of network node described above may be implemented by data processing system 402 executing program code 443, by data processing system 402 operating independent of any computer program code 443, or by any suitable combination of hardware and/or software.

While various aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Moreover, any combination of the elements described in this disclosure in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Additionally, while the processes described herein and illustrated in the drawings are shown as a sequence of steps, this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, and some steps may be performed in parallel.

Tables

Table 1 is an example table of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW/GGSN” IE in a RAB ASSIGNMENT REQUEST message (see TS25.413)). Table 2 is an example table of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW/GGSN” IE in an INITIAL CONTEXT SETUP message (see TS36.413). Table 3 is an example table of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW” IE in a E-RAB SETUP REQUEST message (see TS36.413)). Table 4 is an example table of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW” IE in the HANDOVER REQUEST message (see TS36.413). Table 5 is an example table of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW” IE in the X2: HANDOVER REQUIRED message (see TS36.423). Table 6 is an example table of inclusion of new “PLMN of PGW/GGSN” IE in the RANAP Enhanced Relocation Information IE included in the RNSAP: Enhanced Relocation Request message (see TS25.423). Table 7 is an example table of RAB Assignment Request message with new IE for PLMN ID. Table 8 is an example table indicating an Initial Context Setup Request message with new IE for PLMN ID). Table 9 is an example table indicating an E-RAB SETUP REQUEST with new IE for PLMN ID.

TABLE 1
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
RABs To Be Setup Or	O				YES	ignore
Modified List
>RABs To Be Setup Or		1 to
Modified Item IEs		<maxnoofRABs>
>>First Setup Or	M			Grouping	EACH	reject
Modify Item				reason: same
				criticality.
>>>RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2	The same	—
				RAB ID must
				only be
				present in one
				group.
>>>NAS	O		9.2.3.18		—
Synchronisation
Indicator
>>>PLMN of	O		9.2.3.33	The PLMN
PGW/GGSN				ID of the
				PGW/GGSN
				involved in
				the RAB
				assignment
>>>RAB Parameters	O		9.2.1.3	Includes all	—
				necessary
				parameters
				for RABs
				(both for
				MSC and
				SGSN)
				including
				QoS.
>>>User Plane	O				—
Information
>>>>User Plane	M		9.2.1.18		—
Mode
>>>>UP Mode	M		9.2.1.19		—
Versions
>>>Transport Layer	O				—
Information
>>>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>>>Iu Transport	M		9.2.2.2		—
Association
>>>Service Handover	O		9.2.1.41		—
>>>E-UTRAN	O		9.2.1.90		YES	Ignore
Service Handover
>>>Correlation ID	O		9.2.2.5		—
>>Second Setup Or	M			Grouping	EACH	Ignore
Modify Item				reason: same
				criticality.
>>>PDP Type	O		9.2.1.40		—
Information
>>>Data Volume	O		9.2.1.17		—
Reporting
Indication
>>>DL GTP-PDU	O		9.2.2.3		—
Sequence Number
>>>UL GTP-PDU	O		9.2.2.4		—
Sequence Number
>>>DL N-PDU	O		9.2.1.33		—
Sequence Number
>>>UL N-PDU	O		9.2.1.34		—
Sequence Number
>>>Alternative RAB	O		9.2.1.43		YES	Ignore
Parameter Values
>>>GERAN BSC	O		9.2.1.58		YES	Ignore
Container
>>>PDP Type	O		9.2.1.40a	The PDP	YES	Ignore
Information extension				Type
				Information
				extension IE
				can only be
				included if
				PDP Type
				Information
				IE is not
				present.
>>>Offload RAB	O		9.2.1.94	Applicable	YES	Ignore
parameters				only for
				SIPTO at
				Iu-PS.
RABs To Be Released	O				YES	Ignore
List
>RABs To Be Released		1 to			EACH	Ignore
Item IEs		<maxnoofRABs>
>>RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2	The same	—
				RAB ID must
				only be
				present in one
				group.
>>Cause	M		9.2.1.4		—
UE Aggregate	O		9.2.1.91		YES	Ignore
Maximum Bit Rate
MSISDN	O		9.2.1.95	Applicable	YES	Ignore
				only for
				SIPTO at
				Iu-PS.

TABLE 2
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
MME UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.3		YES	reject
eNB UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.4		YES	reject
UE Aggregate	M		9.2.1.20		YES	reject
Maximum Bit Rate
E-RAB to Be Setup		1			YES	reject
List
>E-RAB to Be Setup		1 . . .			EACH	reject
Item IEs		<maxnoofE-RABs>
>>E-RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2		—
>>E-RAB Level QoS	M		9.2.1.15	Includes	—
Parameters				necessary QoS
				parameters.
>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>GTP-TEID	M		9.2.2.2		—
>>NAS-PDU	O		9.2.3.5		—
>>Correlation ID	O		9.2.1.80		YES	ignore
>>PLMN of PGW	O		9.2.3.8	The PLMN
				ID of the
				PGW/GGSN
				involved in
				the RAB
				assignment
UE Security	M		9.2.1.40		YES	reject
Capabilities
Security Key	M		9.2.1.41	The KeNB is	YES	reject
				provided after
				the key-
				generation in
				the MME, see
				TS 33.401 [15].
Trace Activation	O		9.2.1.4		YES	ignore
Handover Restriction	O		9.2.1.22		YES	ignore
List
UE Radio Capability	O		9.2.1.27		YES	ignore
Subscriber Profile ID	O		9.2.3.39		YES	ignore
for RAT/Frequency
priority
CS Fallback Indicator	O		9.2.3.21		YES	reject
SRVCC Operation	O		9.2.1.58		YES	ignore
Possible
CSG Membership	O		9.2.1.73		YES	ignore
Status
Registered LAI	O		9.2.3.1		YES	ignore
GUMMEI	O		9.2.3.9	This IE	YES	ignore
				indicates the
				MME serving
				the UE.
MME UE S1AP ID 2	O		9.2.3.3	This IE	YES	ignore
				indicates the
				MME UE
				S1AP ID
				assigned by
				the MME.
Management Based	O		9.2.1.83		YES	ignore
MDT Allowed
Management Based	O		MDT		YES	ignore
MDT PLMN List			PLMN
			List
			9.2.1.89

TABLE 3
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
MME UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.3		YES	reject
eNB UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.4		YES	reject
UE Aggregate	O		9.2.1.20		YES	reject
Maximum Bit Rate
E-RAB to be Setup		1			YES	reject
List
>E-RAB To Be Setup		1 . . .			EACH	reject
Item IEs		<maxnoofE-RABs>
>>E-RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2		—
>>E-RAB Level QoS	M		9.2.1.15	Includes	—
Parameters				necessary QoS
				parameters.
>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>GTP-TEID	M		9.2.2.2	EPC TEID.	—
>>NAS-PDU	M		9.2.3.5		—
>>Correlation ID	O		9.2.1.80		YES	ignore
>>PLMN of PGW	O		9.2.3.8	The PLMN
				ID of the
				PGW/GGSN
				involved in
				the RAB
				assignment

TABLE 4
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
MME UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.3		YES	reject
Handover Type	M		9.2.1.13		YES	reject
Cause	M		9.2.1.3		YES	ignore
UE Aggregate	M		9.2.1.20		YES	reject
Maximum Bit Rate
E-RABs To Be Setup		1			YES	reject
List
>E-RABs To Be Setup		1 . . .			EACH	reject
Item IEs		<maxnoofE-RABs>
>>E-RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2		—
>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>GTP-TEID	M		9.2.2.2	To deliver	—
				UL PDUs.
>>E-RAB Level QoS	M		9.2.1.15	Includes	—
Parameters				necessary QoS
				parameters.
>>Data Forwarding	O		9.2.1.76		YES	ignore
Not Possible
>>PLMN of PGW	O		9.2.3.8	The PLMN
				ID of the
				PGW/GGSN
				involved in
				the RAB
				assignment
Source to Target	M		9.2.1.56		YES	reject
Transparent Container
UE Security	M		9.2.1.40		YES	reject
Capabilities
Handover Restriction	O		9.2.1.22		YES	ignore
List
Trace Activation	O		9.2.1.4		YES	ignore
Request Type	O		9.2.1.34		YES	ignore
SRVCC Operation	O		9.2.1.58		YES	ignore
Possible
Security Context	M		9.2.1.26		YES	reject
NAS Security	C-		9.2.3.31	The eNB	YES	reject
Parameters to	iffromUTRANGERAN			shall use
E-UTRAN				this IE as
				specified in
				TS 33.401
				[15].
CSG Id	O		9.2.1.62		YES	reject
CSG Membership	O		9.2.1.73		YES	ignore
Status
GUMMEI	O		9.2.3.9	This IE	YES	ignore
				indicates the
				MME serving
				the UE.
MME UE S1AP ID 2	O		9.2.3.3	This IE	YES	ignore
				indicates the
				MME UE
				S1AP ID
				assigned by
				the MME.
Management Based	O		9.2.1.83		YES	ignore
MDT Allowed
Management Based	O		MDT		YES	ignore
MDT PLMN List			PLMN
			List
			9.2.1.89

TABLE 5
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.13		YES	reject
Old eNB UE X2AP ID	M		eNB UE	Allocated at	YES	reject
			X2AP ID	the source eNB
			9.2.24
Cause	M		9.2.6		YES	ignore
Target Cell ID	M		ECGI		YES	reject
			9.2.14
GUMMEI	M		9.2.16		YES	reject
UE Context		1			YES	reject
Information
>MME UE S1AP ID	M		INTEGER	MME UE S1AP	—	—
			(0 . . . 232 −1)	ID allocated
				at the MME
>UE Security	M		9.2.29		—	—
Capabilities
>AS Security	M		9.2.30		—	—
Information
>UE Aggregate	M		9.2.12		—	—
Maximum Bit Rate
>Subscriber Profile ID	O		9.2.25		—	—
for RAT/Frequency
priority
>E-RABs To Be Setup		1			—	—
List
>>E-RABs To Be Setup		1 . . .			EACH	ignore
Item		<maxnoofBearers>
>>>E-RAB ID	M		9.2.23		—	—
>>>E-RAB Level QoS	M		9.2.9	Includes	—	—
Parameters				necessary QoS
				parameters
>>>DL Forwarding	O		9.2.5		—	—
>>>UL GTP Tunnel	M		GTP	SGW endpoint	—	—
Endpoint			Tunnel	of the S1
			Endpoint	transport
			9.2.1	bearer. For
				delivery of UL
				PDUs.
>>PLMN of PGW	O		9.2.3.8	The PLMN
				ID of the
				PGW/GGSN
				involved in
				the RAB
				assignment
>RRC Context	M		OCTET	Includes the	—	—
			STRING	RRC Handover
				Preparation
				Information
				message as
				defined in
				subclause
				10.2.2 of TS
				36.331 [9]
>Handover Restriction	O		9.2.3		—	—
List
>Location Reporting	O		9.2.21	Includes the	—	—
Information				necessary
				parameters for
				location
				reporting
>Management Based	O		9.2.59		YES	ignore
MDT Allowed
>Management Based	O		MDT		YES	ignore
MDT PLMN List			PLMN
			List
			9.2.64
UE History	M		9.2.38	Same	YES	ignore
Information				definition as in
				TS 36.413 [4]
Trace Activation	O		9.2.2		YES	ignore
SRVCC Operation	O		9.2.33		YES	ignore
Possible
CSG Membership	O		9.2.52		YES	reject
Status
Mobility In formation	O		BIT	Information	YES	ignore
			STRING	related to the
			(SIZE	handover; the
			(32))	source eNB
				provides it in
				order to enable
				later analysis
				of the
				conditions that
				led to a wrong
				HO.

TABLE 6
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	ignore
Source RNC To Target	M		9.2.1.28		YES	reject
RNC Transparent
Container
Old Iu Signalling	O		9.2.1.38		YES	ignore
Connection
Identifier CS domain
Global CN-ID CS	O		9.2.1.46		YES	reject
domain
Old Iu Signalling	O		9.2.1.38		YES	ignore
Connection
Identifier PS domain
Global CN-ID PS	O		9.2.1.46		YES	reject
domain
RABs To Be Setup	O				YES	reject
List
>RABs To Be Setup		1 to			EACH	reject
Item IEs		<maxnoofRABs>
>>CN Domain	M		9.2.1.5		—
Indicator
>>RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2		—
>>RAB Parameters	M		9.2.1.3		—
>>Data Volume	C -		9.2.1.17		—
Reporting	ifPS
Indication
>>PDP Type	C -		9.2.1.40		—
Information	ifPS
>>>PLMN of	O		9.2.3.33	The PLMN
PGW/GGSN				ID of the
				PGW/GGSN
				involved in
				the RAB
				assignment
>>User Plane	M
Information
>>>User Plane Mode	M		9.2.1.18		—
>>>UP Mode Versions	M		9.2.1.19		—
>>Data Forwarding	O
TNL Information
>>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1
Address
>>>Transport	M		Iu Transport	Related to
Association			Association	TLA above.
			9.2.2.2
>>Source Side Iu UL	O
TNL Information
>>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>>Iu Transport	M		9.2.2.2		—
Association
>>Service Handover	O		9.2.1.41		—
>>Alternative RAB	O		9.2.1.43		—
Parameter Values
>>E-UTRAN	O		9.2.1.90		YES	ignore
Service Handover
>>PDP Type	O		9.2.1.40a	The PDP	YES	Ignore
Information extension				Type
				Information
				extension IE
				can only be
				included if
				PDP Type
				Information
				IE is
				present.
SNA Access	O		9.2.3.24		YES	ignore
Information
UESBI-Iu	O		9.2.1.59		YES	ignore
Selected PLMN	O		9.2.3.33		YES	ignore
Identity
CN MBMS Linking	O				YES	ignore
Information
>Joined MBMS		1 to			EACH	ignore
Bearer Service		<maxnoofMulti-
IEs		castServicesPerUE>
>>TMGI	M		9.2.3.37		—
>>PTP RAB ID	M		9.2.1.75		—
Integrity Protection	O		9.2.1.11	Integrity	YES	ignore
Information				Protection
				Information
				includes key
				and permitted
				algorithms.
Encryption	O		9.2.1.12	Integrity	YES	ignore
Information				Protection
				Information
				includes key
				and permitted
				algorithms.
UE Aggregate	O		9.2.1.91		YES	ignore
Maximum Bit Rate
RAB Parameters	O		9.2.1.102	Applicable	YES	reject
List				only to
				RNSAP
				relocation.
CSG ID	O		9.2.1.85	Applicable	YES	reject
				only to
				Enhanced
				Relocation
				from RNC
				towards a
				hybrid cell
				and RNSAP
				relocation.
CSG Membership	O		9.2.1.92	Applicable	YES	reject
Status				only to
				Enhanced
				Relocation
				from RNC
				towards a
				hybrid cell
				and RNSAP
				relocation.
Anchor PLMN	O		9.2.3.33	Indicates the	YES	ignore
Identity				PS core
				network
				operator in
				case of
				SRVCC (see
				TS 23.251
				[39]).

TABLE 7
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticaiity	Criticaiity
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
RABs To Be Setup Or	O				YES	ignore
Modified List
>RABs To Be Setup Or		1 to
Modified Item IEs		<maxnoofRABs>
>>First Setup Or	M			Grouping	EACH	reject
Modify Item				reason: same
				criticaiity
>>>RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2	The same	—
				RAB ID
				must only
				be present,
				in one
				group.
>>>NAS	O		9.2.3.18		—
Synchronisation
Indicator
>>>RAB Parameters	O		9.2.1.3	Includes all	—
				necessary
				parameters
				for RABs
				(both for
				MSC and
				SGSN)
				including
				QoS.
>>>User Plane	O				—
Information
>>>>User Plane Mode	M		9.2.1.18		—
>>>>UP Mode Versions	M		9.2.1.19		—
>>>Transport Layer	O				—
Information
>>>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>>>Iu Transport	M		9.2.2.2		—
Association
>>>Service Handover	O		9.2.1.41		—
>>>E-UTRAN	O		9.2.1.90		YES	ignore
Service Handover
>>>Correlation ID	O		9.2.2.5		—
>>>PLMN of	O				YES	ignore
PGW/GGSN
>>Second Setup Or	M			Grouping	EACH	ignore
Modify Item				reason: same
				criticality
>>>PDP Type	O		9.2.1.40		—
Information
>>>Data Volume	O		9.2.1.17		—
Reporting
Indication
>>>DL GTP-PDU	O		9.2.2.3		—
Sequence Number
>>>UL GTP-PDU	O		9.2.2.4		—
Sequence Number
>>>DL N-PDU	O		9.2.1.33		—
Sequence Number
>>>UL N-PDU	O		9.2.1.34		—
Sequence Number
>>>Alternative RAB	O		9.2.1.43		YES	ignore
Parameter Values
>>>GERAN BSC	O		9.2.1.58		YES	ignore
Container
>>>PDP Type	O		9.2.1.40a	The PDP	YES	ignore
Information extension				Type
				Information
				extension IE
				can only be
				included if
				PDP Type
				Information
				IE is not
				present.
>>>Offload RAB	O		9.2.1.94	Applicable	YES	ignore
parameters				only for
				SIPTO at
				Iu-PS
RABs To Be Released	O				YES	ignore
List
>RABs To Be Released		1 to			EACH	ignore
Item IEs		<maxnoofRABs>
>>RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2	The same	—
				RAB ID
				must only
				be present
				in one
				group.
>>Cause	M		9.2.1.4		—
UE Aggregate	O		9.2.1.91		YES	ignore
Maximum Bit Rate
MSISDN	O		9.2.1.95	Applicable	YES	ignore
				only for
				SIPTO at
				Iu-PS

TABLE 8
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
MME UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.3		YES	reject
eNB UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.4		YES	reject
UE Aggregate	M		9.2.1.20		YES	reject
Maximum Bit Rate
E-RAB to Be Setup		1			YES	reject
List
>E-RAB to Be Setup		1 to			EACH	reject
Item IEs		<maxnoofE-RABs>
>>E-RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2		—
>>E-RAB Level QoS	M		9.2.1.15	Includes	—
Parameters				necessary QoS
				parameters
>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>GTP-TEID	M		9.2.2.2		—
>>NAS-PDU	O		9.2.3.5		—
>>Correlation ID	O		9.2.2.80		YES	ignore
>>PLMN of PGW	O				YES	ignore
UE Security	M		9.2.1.40		YES	reject
Capabilities
Security Key	M		9.2.1.41	The KeNB is	YES	reject
				provided after
				the key-
				generation in
				the MME, see
				TS 33.401 [15]
Trace Activation	O		9.2.1.4		YES	ignore
Handover Restriction	O		9.2.1.22		YES	ignore
List
UE Radio Capability	O		9.2.1.27		YES	ignore
Subscriber Profile ID	O		9.2.1.39		YES	ignore
for RAT/Frequency
priority
CS Fallback Indicator	O		9.2.3.21		YES	reject
SRVCC Operation	O		9.2.1.58		YES	ignore
Possible
CSG Membership	O		9.2.1.73		YES	ignore
Status
Registered LAI	O		9.2.3.1		YES	ignore
GUMMEI ID	O		9.2.3.9	This IE	YES	ignore
				indicates the
				MME serving
				the UE
MME UE S1AP ID 2	O		9.2.3.3	This IE	YES	ignore
				indicates the
				MME UE
				S1AP ID
				assigned by
				the MME
Management Based	O		9.2.1.83		YES	ignore
MDT Allowed

TABLE 9
			IE type and	Semantics		Assigned
IE/Group Name	Presence	Range	reference	description	Criticality	Criticality
Message Type	M		9.2.1.1		YES	reject
MME UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.3		YES	reject
eNB UE S1AP ID	M		9.2.3.4		YES	reject
UE Aggregate	O		9.2.1.20		YES	reject
Maximum Bit Rate
E-RAB to be Setup List		1			YES	reject
>E-RAB To Be Setup		1 to			EACH	reject
Item IEs		<maxnoof E-RABs>
>>E-RAB ID	M		9.2.1.2		—
>>E-RAB Level QoS	M		9.2.1.15	Includes	—
Parameters				necessary QoS
				parameters
>>Transport Layer	M		9.2.2.1		—
Address
>>GTP-TEID	M		9.2.2.2	EPC TEID	—
>>NAS-PDU	M		9.2.3.5		—
>>Correlation ID	O		9.2.2.80		YES	ignore
>>PLMN of PGW	O				YES	ignore

Claims

1. A method in a communication system comprising a first core network node (CN), a second CN, a base station apparatus serving a user equipment (UE), and a packet data network gateway (PGW) located in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and associated with the UE, the method comprising: the first CN receiving a tunneling endpoint identifier (TEID) information element from the second CN, wherein the TEID information element comprises a plurality of fields, wherein one of said plurality of fields of the TEID information element includes a PLMN identifier identifying the PLMN in which the PGW is located; andthe first CN forwarding to the base station apparatus the received PLMN identifier that identifies the PLMN in which the PGW is located.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the TEID information element is a fully qualified TEID (F-TEID) information element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said on of said plurality of fields of the F-TEID information element includes a TEID/GRE Key field and said PLMN identifier is encoded in said TEID/GRE Key field.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first CN is a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN),the second CN is a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node (GGSN),the received TEID information element is a Fully Qualified TEID (F-TEID) information element (IE) comprising nine octets, andfour of said nine octets contain the PLMN ID.

5. The method of embodiment 1, wherein: the base station apparatus comprises a radio network controller (RNC) and a base station, andforwarding the received PLMN identifier to the base station apparatus comprises forwarding the PLMN identifier to the RNC.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first CN is a serving general packet radio service support node (SGSN) and the second CN is a gateway general packet radio service support node (GGSN).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first CN is a Mobility Management Entity (MME),the second CN is a Serving Gateway (SGW),the received TEID information element is a Fully Qualified TEID (F-TEID) information element (IE) comprising nine octets, andfour of said nine octets contain the PLMN ID.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to the first CN receiving the TEID information element (IE) from the second CN, the first CN transmits a Create Session Request message to the second CN and, as a result, receives from the second CN a Create Session Response message, whereinthe TEID IE containing the PLMN identifier is included in the Create Session Response message, andthe step of forwarding the received PLMN identifier to the base station comprises transmitting to the base station a context setup request message comprising the PLMN identifier.

9. A method in a communication system comprising an mobility management node (MMN), a base station serving a user equipment (UE), a Radio Network Controller (RNC) controlling the base station, and a packet data network gateway (PGW) located in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and associated with the UE, the method comprising: the MMN obtaining a PLMN identifier (ID) identifying the PLMN in which the PGW is located; andthe MMN transmitting to the RNC the obtained PLMN ID that identifies the PLMN in which the PGW is located.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining the PLMN ID comprises the MMN receiving from a core network node a message comprising a Fully Qualified Tunnel Endpoint Identifier (F-TEID) information element (IE) comprising at least nine sequential octets and not more than four of said at least nine octets of the F-TEID IE are used to encode the PLMN ID.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the MMN is one of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME), andthe core network node is one of a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node (GGSN) and a Serving Gateway (SGW).

12. A method in a communication system comprising a first core network node (CN), a base station apparatus serving a user equipment (UE), and a packet data network gateway (PGW) located in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and associated with the UE, the method comprising: the first CN obtaining a PLMN identifier identifying the PLMN in which the PGW is located; andthe first CN transmitting a message to the base station apparatus, wherein the message comprises: i) an information element containing the PLMN ID that identifies the PLMN in which the PGW is located and ii) a radio access bearer (RAB) identifier information element comprising data identifying a RAB.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message further comprises a message type information element indicating that the message is a RAB Assignment Request message.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the message further comprises a message type information element indicating that the message is an Initial Context Setup Request message.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the message further comprises a message type information element indicating that the message is a EUTRAN RAB (E-RAB) Setup Request message.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the message further comprises a message type information element indicating that the message is a Handover Request message.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the first CN is an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Mobility Management Entity (MME).

18. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining the PLMN identifier comprises the first CN receiving a fully qualified tunneling endpoint identifier (F-TEID) information element from a second CN, the F-TEID information element comprising one octet containing information identifying one or more Internet Protocol (IP) versions and further comprising four octets immediately following said one octet containing the PLMN ID,the first CN is one of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME),the second CN is one of a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node (GGSN) and a Serving Gateway (SGW).

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising: the base station apparatus transmitting to a source MME a handover message comprising the PLMN ID of the PGW;the source MME transmitting to a target MME a relocation request message comprising the PLMN ID received by the source MME in the handover message; andthe target MME transmitting to a target base station apparatus a message comprising the PLMN ID the target MME received from the source MME via the relocation message.

20. A method in a communication system comprising a first core network node (CN), a second CN, and a packet data network gateway (PGW) located in a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) and associated with user equipment (UE), the comprising: the first CN encoding in a TEID/GRE Key field of a fully qualified tunneling endpoint identifier (F-TEID) information element (IE) a PLMN identifier (ID) that identifies the PLMN in which the PGW is located; andthe first CN transmitting the F-TEID information element containing the PLMN ID to the second CN.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first CN is a Service Gateway (SGW) in an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network and the second CN is a Mobility Management Entity (MME) in the EPC.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising the second CN transmitting the received PLMN ID to a base station apparatus serving the UE.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of transmitting the F-TEID information element to the second CN comprises transmitting a create session response, including the F-TEID information element, to the second CN; andthe method further comprises: prior to the first CN encoding the PLMN ID in the TEID/GRE key field, the first CN receiving a create session request message from the second CN, wherein the create session request identifies the PGW.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the first CN is one of a Gateway General Packet Radio Service Support Node (GGSN) and a Serving Gateway (SGW),the second CN is one of a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME), andthe F-TEID IE comprises at least nine sequential octets and the sixth through ninth octets of said at least nine sequential octets are used to encode the PLMN ID.